SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — Gov. JB Pritzker, at an unrelated press conference on Tuesday, urged Illinois State University and its striking workers to return to the bargaining table.
“It needs to happen ASAP,” he said. “All of them need to get back to the bargaining table, that is where it seems like there is a deal to be made. We want to make sure that happens in an expedited fashion. I do not like the idea that we have people who are not working.”
This comes as the strike between AFSCME Local 1110 and ISU enters its fourth week. The union, which represents 350 workers including janitors, groundskeepers and dining staff, went on strike April 8 after they did not approve of ISU’s last best and final offer.
When a reporter asked Pritzker if he had personally contacted ISU’s administration, he said, “I have said that they need to get back to the bargaining table. That is the work that needs to get done. A decent wage needs to be paid.”
The Illinois governor appoints all seven members of ISU’s board of trustees, the highest governing body at the college.
Pritzker also talked about the so-called strikebreakers. AFSCME Council 31 and Local 1110 requested a temporary restraining order to stop certain contracted services during its strike. That request was denied on Wednesday by a McLean County Judge, effectively siding in favor of ISU.
AFSCME Council 31 said they have received documents through the Freedom of Information Act that prove ISU hired temporary replacement workers. Pritzker said there should never be workers crossing the picket line.
“I don’t believe in straight strikebreakers. I know that’s being litigated right now. This should not occur. We shouldn’t have people taking other people’s jobs,” he said.
Republican gubernatorial challenger Darren Bailey traveled to ISU on April 24. He openly criticized his Democratic opponent during that stop. The Southern Illinois Republican said Pritzker isn’t showing any leadership on this issue.
“Where’s Governor JB Pritzker?” he said. “Not here. He’s not here helping these workers and offering true leadership to Illinois workers who need help. Instead, he’s going on cable news shows to hype up his delusional presidential run. You can’t claim to stand with workers and then disappear when it actually matters.”
Bailey said as governor, he would ensure his Republican administration is not anti-union.
Pritzker said based on Bailey’s voting record in the state senate doesn’t match his words.
“Darren Bailey, who likes to say that somehow he’s standing with the workers, has never stood with workers in this state. He voted against raising the minimum wage in our state. He’s voted against the Workers’ Rights Amendment. He voted against every provision that we’ve put forward that’s good for workers in the state of Illinois,” he said.
WMBD TV first reported on this story. You can find the original story online at CIProud.com.
